Film

Fangjian Li's journey into the world of sound engineering was born from a desire to delve deeper into the collaborative art of filmmaking. Initially attracted to various departments, including production design and producing, she sought to understand how each element contributed to storytelling.

HICKTOWN follows Amber, a biracial woman trapped in a rundown, predominantly white town where abuse is currency and survival comes at a cost. Pimped out by her own family to help pay the bills, Amber’s quiet strength simmers beneath years of trauma—until a chance connection with a former athlete on probation offers a glimpse of freedom.

Some films capture lightning in a bottle — a moment so delicate and real that it feels almost impossible to recreate. Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise (1995) is one of those films. It’s a quiet masterpiece about chance, connection, and the fleeting magic of meeting someone who feels like they’ve been waiting for you your whole life.

Nickelodeon is expanding its globally beloved Dora franchise with a raft of new content leading with the original feature-length live-action movie, Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, debuting Wednesday, July 2, on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon in the U.S., and shortly after around the world.

Sometimes a coming-of-age story feels so raw and specific that it becomes universal. Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, released in 2017, is exactly that kind of film. It’s tender, hilarious, painfully honest, and somehow even more poignant on rewatch, especially on a quiet Sunday when you're reflecting on who you used to be — and who you still might become.

Some movies don't just tell a story — they create a feeling. Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation is one of those rare films. Released in 2003, it’s the perfect rewatch when you’re craving something atmospheric, slow, and emotionally resonant. Over twenty years later, it still captures a very specific kind of loneliness and unexpected connection in a way no other film quite does.

On May 5, 2000, Ridley Scott unleashed Gladiator into theaters — and the world of cinema was never quite the same. Twenty-five years later, the sword still gleams, the sand still stings, and Maximus Decimus Meridius remains one of the most iconic characters in film history.

There’s something timeless about watching someone stumble gloriously through their twenties, and no film captures that better than Frances Ha. Directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written with Greta Gerwig (who also stars), Frances Ha remains the ultimate black-and-white ode to being creatively lost, chronically broke, and hopelessly optimistic.

Vertigo Releasing announced the UK release of Michiel Blanchart's high stakes thriller, Night Call (La nuit se traîne). Following its successful US release, the film will be landing on UK Digital Platforms from 28th April.

The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (JDIFF) 2025 is proud to host the US premiere of Nothing Wrong, a powerful narrative feature from Canadian filmmakers Samuel Plante and Josh Ary. Inspired by true events and grounded in emotional authenticity, the film unpacks a story of trauma, trust, and the ties that either hold us together or pull us apart.